PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The old Topsail High School is back open as the new home of Pender County’s Eastern Annex Building.

The building, located off of Highway 17 in Hampstead, was built in 1924 and used as a school until recent years. During its heyday, it housed grades one through 12. The school was made up of 16 rooms and 10 teachers. The building will now be used to house staff from several county departments.

Renovations for the building coast $3.5 million. Pender County Commission Chair David Williams said it was worth it.

“We are going to be able to enhance current services offered over here, but have room to grow. We’re not crunched in this building when we open it up. Where we’ve been leasing and spending quite a bit of money annually for lease, it didn’t function well, it didn’t flow well,” Williams said.

Williams actually attended the school when it was a middle school. He said seeing the renovations is like walking down memory lane.

Officials with the Columbus (County) Chamber of Commerce and Tourism say one of the rural area’s assets – its proximity to several cities – is a disadvantage for local businesses because so many county residents flock out of town to spend money.